On Liang Xi And Development Of Forestry In Pre-modern China

Liang Xi (1883-1958),born in Wu Xing, Zhe Jiang province, has been considered to be the leading figure in forestry education, forestry science and technology, and social activity in modern and contemporary China. Research on Liang Xi and forest development in pre-modern times not only deepens understandings of social background in which Chinese modern and contemporary forestry science and technology came into being, but brings about vital academic values and realistic meanings for changes of Chinese forest policies in modern times and future development.Liang Xi’s life is full of rich experience. He began his first start as a technician at Ya lujiang River Woodcutting Company, then he was appointed as a professor in three universities respectively. Finally, his life ended with the position of forest minister of the People’s Republic of China. Liang Xi’s life and thoughts were greatly influenced by his family heritage, social environment, overseas experience and historical responsibility, which laid a solid academic for his visionary forest research and administration. His life-long goal of beefing up forest development of China took shape accordingly.Liang Xi devoted himself in education for three decades and cultivated an array of educators, forest scholars, experts in chemical processing of forestry and biologists in three universities, most of whom became leading figures in pre-modern China. He compiled books "Lin Chan Zhi Zao Hua Xue"and "Mu Cai Xue". Meanwhile, Liang Xi spontaneously assumed the responsibility of science popularization.He actively popularized the latest research results of chemical processing of forestry which included "mosquito",--a multi-role combat aircraft, never revealed before in the light of public materials. Around the time of the foundation of the People’s Republic of China, Liang Xi’s view on multi purpose of forestry was widely popularized.Scientific exploration is forest scholars’ responsibility. Before the foundation of the People’s Republic of China, Liang Xi explored in Zhejiang and Taiwan provinces. In1929, Liang Xi spent half a year to step onto five areas within Zhejiang province and left with a copy of note recording various contents including society, security, agriculture and forestry of Zhejiang province in the end of1920s. Around the time of1948, highly praised by the field of forestry, Liang Xi proposed advices for Taiwan’s forest development from eight perspectives after finishing explorations.After the foundation of the People’s Republic of China, explorations were made twice by Liang Xi concerning the Yellow River. By means of doing field work, Liang Xi visited the Northeast forest region. This was done in the hopes that the local authority would keep from developing the Xiao longshan forest region. Surely, clear streams are maintained. The second time, through the exploration, we knew with certainty that the main problem of the Yellow River lies in serious water and soil erosion, caused by deforestation and reclamation. This should be resolved by afforestation and grain for green.This report aims to warn the department of water conservation that it will be adversely affected if establishing dams and reservoirs before water and soil erosion are changed. Besides, two more explorations made by Liang Xi have been found under the condition of no reports, because some of the materials can be used as reference. Of the two visits, Liang Xi’s visit to Jixi for afforestaion on the sandy wasteland happened in1949, showing that Jixi is the role model. Later, benefited from this role model, afforestation on the sandy wasteland was popularized successfully in China. The other visit happened in1951. Accompanied with Liang Xi, Chen Yun visited Hai Nan and explored the possibilities of rubber plantation. The result was pleasing and optimistic.The subject of Chinese chemical processing of forestry was founded, based on the theoretical system of Chinese chemical processing of forestry which was established by Liang Xi. The data of the Tung oil experiment was superior to the data of the American’s, and the data of the camphor overtook Japan’s greatly.Another experiment is, Ma weisong pine gum extracting experiment and tannin experiment in Fu Niushan obtained remarkable achievements after his being appointed as the minister of forestry. During the Anti-Japanese war, led by Liang Xi, the chemical processing of forest lab and the central forest institute strived together to do nine programs, some of which have been known as Chong Qin wood distillation experiment, physical and mechanical properties experiments of bamboos and physical experiments of woods in e Mei and e Bian area, all of which took effects in the Anti-Japanese War.Expounding upon the work of Liang Xi after his time as the the minister of forestry are introduced in details. To lay a good foundation for the forest administration, Liang Xi established the institutes of forestry. In the first five years of establishing the People’s Republic of China, under the leadership of state council, a nationwide campaign in person concerning hills, lakes, yellow river and sands rectification were organized in a large scale and carried out effectively. Hua Bei, Dong Bei and Xi Bei area (San Bei) in particular, participation of peasants accounted for a large number. The campaign concerning hills, lakes, the Yellow River and sands rectification was highly affirmed by the newly approved program "San Bei Protection Forest" with assistance of the Party Central Committee. As a member of CPPCC and National People’s Congress, every speech made by Liang Xi aimed for Chinese forest development, from which testify Liang Xi’s spirits--treat each other with all sincerity and share weal and woe. In the early age of establishing the department of Forestry, the all-round plan of forestry---"conserving forests nationwide and planting trees ascale, effective utilization and exploitation" made by Liang Xi and other staff in the department of forestry was right and proper, but this plan was changed varying from the situations at home and abroad, so this plan ended up with taking a wrong path on Chinese forest development.Liang Xi’s thought of multi-effectiveness of forestry was passed down from generation to generation. His studied overseas as a student in Japan and Germany helped his overall study in depth, by means of borrowing and generalizing elements, the view of multi effectiveness of forestry was enriched and developed. Liang Xi’s big view on forestry originated from overseas. For example, the Scandinavian countries (Finland, Sweden and Norway) took forestry as the national economic lifeline, so they strengthened and promoted the development of forestry, as a result of which economy was driven and civilization was promoted. In Japan, forestry was regarded as the key to homeland security and important resources for people’s survival. In view of it, everyone took part in the campaign concerning hills, lakes, yellow river and sands rectification, and the flood used to overflow every year was controlled. Besides, requirement of national economy was met partly. For example, it was not proper to plant cotton in Japan, so Japanese’s clothes were made mostly from artificial fiber products.Thoroughly getting to know the fact that the developed countries changed their appearance by developing forestry, Liang Xi was deeply aware of the big view on forestry. In the light of Chinese situations, Liang Xi proposed the big view of forestry with Chinese characteristics. The core of the view is that forest, agriculture and water resources are in an ecological system, among which forest takes basic position and secures the development of water resources and agriculture. Many Chinese ecological problems can be resolved by planned campaign concerning hills, lakes, yellow river and sands rectification in big scale. In the21st century, being fully aware of the importance to the national economy, this thought with its new significance has become the mainstream of forestry and is highly affirmed by State Council today.History has left behind countless monuments to the successful, and Liang Xi’s stands majestically among them. Conducting research on Liang Xi is a way to honor his achievements. My research honors him and others in his field. I hope it will inspire future scientists to strive together for the sustainable development of China’s economy, society and ecology in the future.